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Fast forward on video front

Following PictureTel's release of its SwitftSite compact video conferencing last month, IBM and Hitachi have entered the market with PC solutions that let mobile users video conference from their notebooks.

IBM's videoconferencing solution, unveiled at the Telecon XVI show in Anaheim, California, consists of an IBM ThinkPad 760ED notebook or PC, Intel's ProShare technology, a PictureTel camera and an ISDN adaptor card.

The combination is designed to enable users to participate in video conferencing sessions from their notebook or desktop PCs over ISDN networks. IBM also plans to offer support for video conferencing via standard telephone service networks sometime next year.

Meanwhile, Hitachi's PC division announced a video conferencing solution for its Hitachi Mx Series notebook PC. The Hitachi offering, which will be demonstrated at Comdex in Las Vegas later this month, consists of the Hitachi Mx notebook, a clip-on digital camera and an integrated adaptor.

The Hitachi Mx allows users to conduct video conferencing sessions over ISDN networks. Pricing of the Mx will be determined at time of shipment in late November or early December it will be available through corporate resellers. Hitachi said it has no plans to sell the product in the UK.